cochlea
/ˈkɒklɪə
/noun (plural cochleae /ˈkɒklɪiː/)
The spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.The inner ear includes the cochlea, the hearing organ, and the semicircular canals and otolith organs, the sense organs of balance....
- In the cochlea in the inner ear, the vibrations are changed into electric signals that move along the nerves to the brain.
- This measures the responses the cochlea makes to sounds produced by a probe placed in the outer ear.
Derivatives
cochlear
/ adjective ...- Sensorineural hearing loss indicates a disease or abnormality of the inner ear or cochlear portion of the eighth cranial nerve.
- A device called a cochlear implant can be surgically inserted in the inner ear of children as young as 12 months of age to stimulate hearing.
- No significant cochlear impairment was noticed in metabolically well-controlled diabetic patients in comparison to controls.
Origin
Mid 16th century (used to denote spiral objects): from Latin, 'snail shell or screw', from Greek kokhlias. The current sense dates from the late 17th century.